Position Paper 1 - Perspectives of 'Local' News

 Italy

Not a day goes by when I don't look at the news. Whether televised or digital, I continually update myself on events happening in the United States. Often, I check Twitter to see what is trending or look at my news app. Seeing newsworthy content is a common occurrence in my day-to-day routine. In my experience, only certain aspects of our culture are considered newsworthy. This may depend on the publication, the media, or the journalist's agenda. What is considered "newsworthy" in the United States may differ in other publications worldwide. Researching another country's publications can give insight into what they think is worthy of a headline. 

As previously mentioned, certain aspects of a country's culture can be considered newsworthy. If there is one country with which many Americans are familiar, it would be Italy. Of course, we are familiar with aspects of Italian culture, including fashion, food, art, and architecture; however, similar to the United States, politics, media agendas, and the expectation of a publication influence Italy's news. 

The news in Italy is similar to what you might find in the United States. Since World War II, Italy has had freedom of speech after abolishing its monarchy and becoming a democratic republic. According to Reporters Without Borders, 

"Italian journalists enjoy a climate of freedom. But they sometimes give in to the temptation to censor themselves, either to conform to their news organisation’s editorial line, or to avoid a defamation suit or other form of legal action, or out of fear of reprisals by extremist groups or organised crime."

As we are used to, politics is one of the front-running topics in American media, and the same rings true for Italy, especially today. According to Reuters, a candidate of the political party The Brothers of Italy was suspended this week. Several years ago, the candidate, Calogero Pisano, posted a tweet hailing Hitler as a "great statesman." This scandal must surprise some, as the political party is due to emerge victorious at the September 25th vote. Of course, the story has made significant headlines in Italy's press, as expected. 

According to Corriere Della Serra, a leading Italian newspaper based in Milan: 

(Translated) "He wrote words of appreciation for Adolf Hitler on Facebook, then expressed support for Putin on the social network. Then he had deleted everything because, as he himself explained yesterday, 'I was ashamed of the things I had mistakenly published,' regretting "those posts that after many years I deem unworthy."

Although The Brothers of Italy are expected to win the election, many consider this a political crisis. The issue began when Italy's prime minister, Giuseppe Conte, resigned after a dispute over a package to recover the economy post-pandemic. His resignation spun Italy into political uncertainty. The individual running for prime minister over The Brothers of Italy party is a woman named Giorgia Meloni. Meloni is described as "Italy's first far-right leader since Mussolini." She is said to have admired the founder of the fascist party as a young girl even though Meloni replied "yes" to a question regarding if Mussolini was bad for Italy. Still, disowning the allegations that she is a fascist will not change the opinions of many Italians. Especially since the party itself has never renounced its fascist background. So, how is she speculated to become Italy's first female prime minister? Allegedly, it is due to Italy finding itself in a snap election.  

The crisis occurring in Italy extends to its neighboring countries as well. Many countries are expressing their concern; however, many have different opinions and points of view. For example, many headlines only mention Meloni as potentially Italy's "first female prime minister." Articles may discuss her political ideas or agenda, but the headline would not lead any reader in one political direction. The headline is neither negative nor positive but stands unbiased, which is evidently common in Italian media. 

According to AP News, the excitement of Italy's potential first female prime minister is dividing women across the country. The big question for female voters is currently "gender versus agenda." This is primarily due to Meloni's view on abortion and rumors of fascism. Also, many women do not care about "female empowerment" but the current economic crisis. 

Another main topic in Italy that is covered is football. Of course, when I say football, I refer to what we call "soccer." Soccer is Italy's most popular sport and is home to some of the "world's most successful teams." So, it is easy to see why soccer stays in the headlines. The sports publication, Football Italia, focuses solely on what is happening within the sport. Many Americans are more fascinated with American football; however, some enjoy watching soccer in their spare time. The international popularity of soccer results in Football Italia having an English translation for English-speaking countries. 

Many Italian publications cater to an English-speaking audience. One of these publications includes The Local. The Local gives tips to Americans in Italy and travel tips to those who want to visit. The publication also helps readers understand the Italian elections and what to look for. Another publication, which I researched recently, is The Florentine. Like The Local, The Florentine is an English-translated magazine for those living or planning to visit Florence. The magazine is popular for describing Italian life, art, and culture. After all, it is refreshing to enjoy Italian culture without the weight of the political crisis. These English-translated publications show just how much Italy is followed internationally. 

Italy's news coverage is not so different from what we may see here in the United States of America.  Due to the election occurring in the country, it is evident that the media is openly focusing on politics or the economic crisis. Journalists can write freely without fear of the government or censorship; however, according to the news in Italy, Italians are speculating about the return of fascism. If the state of the government returns to Mussolini's fascist tactics, censorship may be a part of the future of Italy's news.